Wedding photography isn’t for everyone. But presuming your technical abilities are up to scratch (and if they aren’t, you should not even consider letting yourself loose on somebody’s special day) your problems are mainly about time and crowd management.
Wedding Photography: What devices you require
Here are a few of the important things you’ll require for wedding photography:
Extra SLR body
It’s assumed you’ll be utilizing a digital SLR, however if you’re the main wedding professional photographer it’s necessary to take more than one body, even though you’re not likely to use it. Otherwise, what if your cam breaks down during the special day?
Few photographers have the luxury of 2 DSLR bodies, so chances are you’ll have to obtain one from a mate or take an old movie SLR body.
Important additionals
Take two times as numerous media cards as you think you’ll need. Ensure you have at least one spare battery, even if it’s the pricey Li-Ion kind. Battery failure is not a choice.
Some photographers take a flash for subtle fill-light, others take a folding reflector (though you ‘d need an assistant to hold that).
Tripod
Though not vital for many shots (and a real limitation for candids), a tripod can be helpful for some of the posed shots.
This is especially the case for huge groups, where you can leave the camera set up and talk to your group directly, instead of barking directions from behind the cam. It’s also useful for postured shots of the bride and groom, as it leaves you totally free to change the bride’s gown etc without moving the cam.
Wedding event photography: Forward planning
Satisfy the couple in advance to discuss their needs. Make a list of who you require to picture.
The honest reportage approach is stylish, take some postured shots too, to be sure of protecting at least one lovely, in-focus shot of all the crucial players.
If you can, check out the places ahead of time to see where the sun will be, and scout for locations for the postured pictures.
Seek places far from direct sun and with undistracting (however not awful) backgrounds. Make a list of the shots you need to take (exchanging rings, cutting the cake etc).
Learn if there are any constraints on photography. Examine whether pictures are allowed during the service itself, and on any cautions that might use (such as no flash).
Check your equipment ahead of time to ensure that whatever is working, batteries are charged and you have spares. Pack a back-up camera, just in case. Inspect all your settings too.
Wedding photography: Camera Settings
You’ll require to differ your settings to fit the conditions.
During the event you’ll probably need to raise the ISO to 400 or greater to shoot without flash.
In high-contrast light you’ll need to be careful with white bridal gown and dark suits, among which can quickly lose information if your exposure isn’t spot on.
The best insurance is to shoot in RAW format, with its higher latitude. Take a mid-tone light reading and check your LCD regularly. The flashing overexposure caution of lots of electronic cameras may be handy but it’s only a guide.
Wedding event photography: Be a poser
An excellent wedding event shoot should be a mix of both posed and candid shots. The posed shots provide the best opportunities to ensure everybody looks good in the shots and, for instance, the bride’s dress is displayed in its complete magnificence.
Do not keep visitors waiting too long while you do them– they’ll quickly become irritable.
Shoot a few essential groups too, as a record of everyone who was there (it’s simple to miss individuals utilizing the reportage technique).
Be clear and decisive in your guidelines so guests understand what’s needed. Position them rapidly and don’t faff with the cam.
Wedding photography: Candidly speaking
While a few posed shots are very important, it’s best to keep them to a minimum and invest more time on semi-posed and unposed candid shots, which are less disruptive to the day and much better convey the environment and feeling of the event.
Ensure you tape the key events, such as the bride arriving; guests throwing confetti; tossing the bouquet.
Use the larger end of your zoom and get near to develop a sense of intimacy. But also attempt zooming in to telephoto and using a large aperture to separate small groups and individuals from the background.
Wedding photography: Photoshop tweaks
If you’ve done a good task of shooting you should not need to invest much time on the PC.
Certainly if you shot them in RAW there will be the standard processing to do: adjusting contrast, colour etc.
A couple of shots might gain from a tighter crop, or the elimination of the odd distracting background element. In some high-contrast shots you may discover that a small change of the Highlight/Shadow control (under Image > Adjustments in Photoshop) will increase detail in highlights (eg the bride’s dress) and shadows (dark matches).
This is the time to modify your shoot. You will have most likely taken many dozens of images, and there’s no point handing over images of people blinking and so forth.
Wedding event photography: Proudly provides
In days of yore a freshly wed couple would get their precious images installed in a thick leather album, but nowadays there are lots of options.
The album is still a great way to present photos but you can likewise have them made into a hardback book. If you can display the images on a website or online gallery the visitors will probably buy some prints too.
Depending on whether this is a commercially motivated venture, you could put them on a website such as Photobox, where visitors can buy and pay for their own shots, or an easy gallery, where they should buy through you. Another option is a DVD slideshow, with music– but only in addition to printed output, not rather of it.
